ABUJA, Nigeria — Lt. Gen. Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, the chief of Nigeria’s army, has passed away following an illness, confirmed President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday. Lagbaja was 56 years old.

Having taken the role of army chief in June 2023, Lagbaja passed away on Tuesday night after facing a “period of illness” in Lagos, the economic center of Nigeria, according to a statement from Tinubu’s office.

The news of Lagbaja’s death sparked speculation after he had not made any public appearances for almost two months, leading many to believe he had died. The Nigerian army initially refuted these rumors more than two weeks ago.

In the wake of Lagbaja’s passing, Lt. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede has been appointed as the acting army chief by Tinubu, a week prior to Lagbaja’s death.

Lagbaja’s death occurs at a pivotal moment for Nigeria, which is engaged in one of the continent’s longest-running conflicts against militant groups in its northeastern territory, where Boko Haram has waged an insurgency for nearly 15 years.

The military, which has historically faced issues with funding and equipment, has been striving to curb the spread of extremism both within the region and in surrounding areas.

While the number of violent incidents has dwindled over the years, experts indicate that militant groups have focused on recruiting new members and reinforcing their positions in the Lake Chad basin.

Lagbaja had set a vision to strengthen discipline and professionalism within the Nigerian army, aiming to reshape an organization frequently criticized for its treatment of civilians and allegations of extrajudicial killings in active conflict zones.